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December 6 For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing. Isaiah 30:15. God is extending His grace to Israel, but they are unwilling to listen and obey. Notice that God is offering them rest and a quiet spirit. That describes one who has placed his/her trust in the Lord, totally. It has always been the Lord’s goal for us—that we might enter His rest. Notice that it involves our response of repentance, for proper fellowship with God always starts with the shedding of our burdens and sins. By repentance we are acknowledging that Christ has paid the penalty for our sin, and we are trusting Him to make us clean in the presence of God. We are to enter His presence with confidence—all the while knowing that we are looked upon as justified, as forgiven, and as clothed with Christ. The quietness and trust, spoken of within this verse, can only be achieved by submitting our souls to the saving grace of God. We are to trust in His Spirit, Who wants only to reveal more of Christ to us. When we submit and obey we become the quiet spirit that God would have us become. Our destiny is fulfilled to the highest degree. I pray that we are not like the Israelites who chose not to obey. They had chosen to follow their own instincts and limited knowledge. We are to be on constant guard against these traits, for they lead to our drifting aside from God’s best intentions for us. Father, we thank You for the quietness and strength that You give when we trust You. There is no other way that fulfills Your desire for us. Thank You and Amen. |
